DETROIT – Police are investigating a crash that killed three people just blocks from Detroit police headquarters.
The crash happened just before 11 p.m. Thursday.
The violent collision spit one vehicle in half with the front in the middle of Michigan Avenue and the back half wrapped around a light pole on the eastbound side.
Larry and Tahisha Smith had just left MGM Casino when they stumbled upon the crash.
“We heard the noise, didn’t exactly know what it was,” Tahisha said. “By the time we got up there, we saw the hood and another part of the car smashed up.”
Larry, a retired military vet with 15 years of service, jumped into action. He attempted to perform first aid but it was no use.
Police said two people in the Mercury Sable were pronounced dead at the scene. An 87-year-old man who was driving a Cadillac was rushed to the hospital, where he died.
Investigators are those who saw the carnage are still trying to figure out what happened.
“I don’t see how anybody could have made an accident like that,” Larry said. “He had to be going over 100 miles per hour.”
“It was something I don’t ever want to see again,” Tahisha said. “My heart goes out to the family because that’s a harsh way to lose somebody.”
Police said the most puzzling aspect of the collision is that both vehicles were traveling westbound on Michigan Avenue at the time of the collision.
There were reports of two people who survived the crash who allegedly ran from the scene, but police are still working to confirm if that’s true.
Anyone with information pertaining to this accident is ask to please call Detroit Police Department’s Fatal Squad at 313-596-2260 or Crimes Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for funeral costs. You can donate here.